Respect. Forgive. Be Patient. A New Year's Eating Plan

New Year's resolutions come and go, but healthy eating and exercise habits last forever.

More times than not, resolutions are restrictive and unrealistic. If you weren't running five miles yesterday, you won't be running five miles today. If you weren't a vegan yesterday then chances are you will struggle being a vegan a month from now. I'm not suggesting it can't be done, but I am suggesting that healthy permanent eating and exercise habits happen gradually to be effective for a lifetime.

Consider making a series of small changes each week. Take a 15-minute walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Eat a piece of fruit instead of chips with your noontime sandwich once a week, twice a week, three times a week - whatever works for you at the time. Once these habits are in place, continue them and add another series of small changes.

Another idea is to observe someone who has healthy habits and maintains their ideal body weight. What foods do they choose? Do they eat quickly or slowly? Do they put their forks down between bites? How often do they drink liquids during meals? Are they comfortable leaving uneaten food on their plates? Are they physically active? Do they have regular meals and planned snacks? Now, emulate those habits.

Write it down. You hate it and I hate it, but it really works. Document everything you eat and drink. It is not important that you know the exact numbers of calories, fat, protein and carbohydrates. Record your physical activity. If you don't exercise that day, write that down. When you see it written, you will get an overall picture of where you are and ideas for improvement. It might also be helpful to write down your feelings, as we know most of us eat for reasons other than hunger.